UberChopper, a helicopter service launched by app-based transport service Uber exclusively for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, proved such a hit that the company is introducing aerial tours of Dubai, starting on Thursday, December 3.
UberChopper functioned “at 100 per cent capacity” during the three race days, says Chris Free, general manager of Uber UAE. Launched in association with Alpha Tours, a 20-minute flight from Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm to Yas Island cost Dh2,250 per person.
“Every seat that we had available was full,” says Free. “It’s just a reflection of how excited people were to do this cool and interesting thing. The great thing was that we had a nice mix of residents and tourists using it.
“It gave people an opportunity to see parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi that they haven’t seen before.”
The company had tested the UberChopper concept in New York and Cape Town, among other cities, before introducing it to the UAE, the first country in the Middle East to get it.
While Uber says it will consider running the service again during other events on a case-by-case basis, its next venture, UberTour, involves a 20-minute helicopter tour of Dubai.
Starting December 3 and running until the end of the year, the experience is available from 10am and 4.30pm. It begins with a safety briefing at The Atlantis helipad. Then passengers will take-off for a journey over Old Dubai, Downtown Dubai and the Marina. A ride booked for a group of six costs Dh530 per person, while individual seats cost Dh630.
“This won’t be a regular commute route but a tour of the city from the sky,” Free said. “We do this kind of stuff to show how innovative Uber is, and the ease of the platform.”
Uber Tour will be operated in the same way as the company’s car service, with bookings made through the app. Once the location is confirmed, a driver picks up customers for a door-to-door service.
Free says UberChopper caught on because of the convenience factor.
“The cool thing about Dubai is that people are very tech-savvy and forward thinking,” he says. “People also like the ease of how one tap of a button gives them a stylish ride.”
Dubai resident and blogger Karen McLean, who used UberChopper during the F1 weekend, says she would use it again.
“It was extremely easy,” she says. “It was really fun and a great way to see the UAE from above. I skipped the traffic, arrived in style and had something to brag to all my friends about.”
aahmed@thenational.ae
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
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Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
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Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
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Current number of staff: 47
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Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Power: 480kW
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Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am
Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
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● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
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Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
The specs
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Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
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Price: From Dh599,000
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